Microsoft CIO Jim DuBois Resigns, As layoffs Loom

As Microsoft announces its plans to cut several thousand jobs as part of a reorganization process in its sales and marketing division, while it sets focus on the cloud, the Company’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) Jim DuBois has decided to quit as per media reports.

DuBois had been with the company since 1993 and was named its CIO in 2013, where he worked in several roles overseeing Microsoft’s internal IT organization.

According to CNBC, the company will lay off 10 percent (up to 3,000 jobs) of the company’s total sales staff, mostly from its non-US staff.

“Microsoft is implementing changes to better serve our customers and partners,” a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC. “Today, we are taking steps to notify some employees that their jobs are under consideration or that their positions will be eliminated. Like all companies, we evaluate our business on a regular basis. This can result in increased investment in some places and, from time-to-time, re-deployment in others.”

Microsoft’s head of corporate strategy, Kurt DelBene, will now shoulder DuBois’ responsibilities.

DelBene, a veteran in the company would not be taking the title of CIO, but will still oversee Microsoft’s IT division and will take on a new title of Chief Digital Officer and work towards the company’s efforts to enhance its internal IT practices.

Microsoft constituted of more than 121,000 employees worldwide at the end of March, as per its website.The IT giant is competing with Amazon, Google and other major technology companies, like IBM and Oracle, in the cloud computing space. CEO Satya Nadella looks to reduce the tech colossus’ focus on software, shifting to cloud computing and business services.

Noticeably, under Nadella, Microsoft has made that transition to cloud software delivery, while its PC software business is no longer considered a growth engine with dwidling PC sales across the world. “From large multinationals to small and medium businesses to non-profits all over the world, organizations are using Microsoft’s cloud platforms to power their digital transformation,” Nadella said.

While future jobs are heavily relying on automation than ever, companies are often trimming the fat while retaining highly skilled workers. Experts believe the IT major’s job cuts are an effort to match the company’s skills with the changing marketplace.

While many believe CIO's role is evolving and that he's occupying a key place in the boardroom, a recent study brings to light that more than half of the CIO, CTO or IT admin staff (55%) are not thanked by colleagues for carrying out essential IT tasks on their behalf.